Energy-Saving Melting and Revert Reduction Technology (E-SMARRT): Lost Foam Thin Wall - Feasibility of Producing Lost Foam Castings in Aluminum and Magnesium Based Alloys
- CanmetMATERIALS
- University of Alabama - Birmingham
With the increased emphasis on vehicle weight reduction, production of near-net shape components by lost foam casting will make significant inroad into the next-generation of engineering component designs. The lost foam casting process is a cost effective method for producing complex castings using an expandable polystyrene pattern and un-bonded sand. The use of un-bonded molding media in the lost foam process will impose less constraint on the solidifying casting, making hot tearing less prevalent. This is especially true in Al-Mg and Al-Cu alloy systems that are prone to hot tearing when poured in rigid molds partially due to their long freezing range. Some of the unique advantages of using the lost foam casting process are closer dimensional tolerance, higher casting yield, and the elimination of sand cores and binders. Most of the aluminum alloys poured using the lost foam process are based on the Al-Si system. Very limited research work has been performed with Al-Mg and Al-Cu type alloys. With the increased emphasis on vehicle weight reduction, and given the high-strength-to-weight-ratio of magnesium, significant weight savings can be achieved by casting thin-wall (≤ 3 mm) engineering components from both aluminum- and magnesium-base alloys.
- Research Organization:
- Advanced Technology Institute
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Advanced Manufacturing Office (EE-2F); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- Contributing Organization:
- Eck Industries, Inc. Foseco-Morval, Division of Foseco, Canada Flow Science Inc.
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC36-04GO14230
- OSTI ID:
- 1131409
- Report Number(s):
- NA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Energy Saving Melting and Revert Reduction (E-SMARRT): Precision Casting of Steel
Energy Saving Melting and Revert Reduction Technology (Energy SMARRT): Manufacturing Advanced Engineered Components Using Lost Foam Casting Technology